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Current Issues
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Town of Spider Lake Town Hall Public Hearing RE: Boating Ordinance 5.2.24 6 PM
Calling ALL Spider Lake Residents & Property Owners! We STRONGLY encourage you all to attend & provide your input. The DNR has twice REJECTED the proposed ordinance. Read the letters submitted below by community members and their take on the impact this ordinance will have on our lakes. Login information is located here, on our Facebook page as well as the Town of Spider Lake website:
Agendas & Minutes - Town of Spider Lake (townofspiderlakewi.gov)
Public Hearing
5.2.24 6 PM
Town of Spider Lake Town Hall
The Spider Lake Taxpayers Alliance has received several letters and emails regarding the information disseminated by the Spider Lake Board of Supervisors from an information session that took place during the March 13, 2024 BOS meeting.
We have been asked by these three individuals in particular to distribute their letters in the hope that each has an opportunity to voice their points of view concerning the proposed Ordinance. The 2nd Draft of the Ordinance has been submitted for mandatory DNR review.
These letters have been sent to the Spider Lake Board of Supervisors as well as the Wisconsin DNR.
Sawyer County Board of Supervisors will be meeting this evening regarding ATV-UTV ORDINANCE RESOLUTION AMENDMENT (DISCUSSION AND POSSIBLE ACTION). The public is invited to attend.
Here is a link to the agenda as well as information for attending via Zoom:
https://sawyercountygov.org/.../Vie.../Agenda/_03212024-1910
To view or participate in the virtual meeting from a computer, iPad, or Android device please go to: https://zoom.us/j/95015680309
You can also use the dial in at 1-312-626-6799with the Webinar ID: 950 15680309. Use *9 to Raise/lower hand and *6 to Unmute/mute.
If additional assistance is needed please contact the County Clerk's Office at 715-634-4866 prior to the meeting.
This meeting will be recorded and will be available on our website at: https://sawyercountygov.org.
We invite you to read the WI DNR's response and review of the Town of Spider Lake proposed ordinance #02-2024.
As it is currently written, The Department does not believe this ordinance is enforceable, practical, or will have the desired effects. The Department would encourage the Town of Spider Lake to consider further discussion and/or amending the proposed ordinance prior to moving forward with enacting the ordinance, such as adopting state law and providing more factual information in the condition report. The Department would also recommend exploring options that are less restrictive, but that could still accomplish your goals of providing safe conditions for the diverse users of the Town of Spider Lake's pristine waterways in an equitable and enforceable way
February 14th Board Meeting
After a quiet start to 2024, it has been reported that the Board of Supervisors has created a new draft ordinance regarding lake/boating restrictions and submitted it to the Wisconsin DNR. This application was submitted on or about January 31st and will undergo a 20-day minimum review process. This review is conducted by Lt. Kuhn of the WI DNR, who leads NASBLA and administrates boating law for the State. This is the first step in the process of getting WI DNR approval for any boating restrictions. We are working to get a copy of the application and recommendations from DNR.
We will keep everyone posted as we receive further information.
This is on the Board’s agenda for the 6 pm meeting on Wednesday, 2/14.
Please join in person or via Zoom. Your participation is important and greatly appreciated (zoom link for meeting below):
A newly formed organization has been established called the Spider Lake Boating Club, LTD. It is a Wisconsin Non-stock corporation with a mission statement to promote boating activities on the Spider Lake Chain of Lakes in Sawyer County.
More information to come regarding membership opportunities. Keep an eye on the Taxpayer Alliance Facebook page as well as the Taxpayer Alliance website to learn more about these opportunities and all other town news.
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12.13.23 Meeting
The 12.13.23 Meeting will take place @ 7 PM - Please join in person or via Zoom. We have highlighted the areas that we think are of particular interest.
Dec 13, 2023 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83405047968...
Meeting ID: 834 0504 7968
Passcode: 766593
Join by phone
• +1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
• +1 507 473 4847 US
Meeting ID: 834 0504
From the Desk of Mike Wheeler
Prior to the November Annual Electors Meeting, Mike Wheeler placed/paid for an ad in The Sawyer County Record dedicated to the Taxpayers of The Town of Spider Lake. It read as follows:
At the 11/17/22 Annual Electors Meeting our Board of Supervisors and the Building Committee proposed a new building and dump truck. The Board and the committee's presentation assured the electors of the following: a turnkey building, allowances for unforeseen costs, a new well, and a cost not to exceed $475,000.00 no matter what. The cost of the dump truck was calculated at $250,000.00. The total debt to the taxpayer would not exceed $565,000.00. The balance to be paid from cash reserves.
However, they neglected the cost of site preparation, water extension, electrical extension, and a generator for the sum of $47,467.00 bringing the cost as of today to $521,057.00. The final cost is yet to be determined. The debt for the building and dump truck is now calculated at $800,000.00. The Board is aware that the replacement of another dump truck and utility pickup is desperately needed.
The Annual Electors Meeting will be held on Thursday 11/16/23 at 6:00 PM. You can attend in person or by zoom. You can find the zoom instructions at the Town of Spider Lake website. At this open meeting we will have true discourse with the Board of Supervisors and the Building Committee. It is imperative to be involved in our town government.
I'm Mike Wheeler, road liaison for the Town of Spider Lake. I have assisted in the evaluation of our roads and equipment, along with month-to-month budgeting for the road department since May 2019.
Is this the direction you want our town government to go?
Annual Meeting of the Electors
November 16, 2023
The annual meeting of the Electors in the town of Spider Lake took place on November 16th. The intended purpose of the meeting was to review the 2024 proposed budget for the town and the tax levy. The meeting was attended by 60+ people in the building and another 20 plus on Zoom. The meeting topic quickly shifted to a somewhat heated exchange over the charge that the town government misled the electors at the meeting one year ago with regard to what was going to be included in the “turnkey” roads and fire building. An article was published in the Sawyer County Record by Mike Wheeler to that effect and the town was recently sued over the same set of facts. Dr. John Hilpisch also spoke regarding his experiences with the town board over alterations made to his home on Teal Lake and his subsequent lawsuit against the town. He felt his concerns were dismissed, and that he was treated poorly by members of the chairman’s inner circle. Regardless of the information presented, a vote was taken; the budget and the levy were approved. In defiance of previous legal warnings, the chairman, Tim Sheldon, again denied people attending the meeting via Zoom to record the meeting and would not allow those people their right to vote. This, of course, is a violation of the open meetings law in Wisconsin and denying eligible voters the right to exercise their rights is also illegal. All this leaves many wondering and asking what can and will be done in response to these actions by the chairman. Rest assured, there are remedies under Wisconsin law that exist to address this behavior and all options are currently being reviewed and considered.
Open Meeting Violations 2.0
Open Meeting Laws
After receiving several emails and phone calls regarding the Board of Supervisors meeting on November 8th, Spider Lake Taxpayer Alliance was able to get a clear legal opinion on the two issues in question.
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Blocking the recording of the Zoom meeting. This action by the chairman of the Board of Supervisor is a violation of the open meetings laws in the state Wisconsin. Public meetings can be recorded in any manner so long as it does not interfere with the meeting itself. If you choose to attend a public meeting via Zoom, you are within your rights to record that meeting.
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Electors voting via Zoom. If you are eligible to vote within the town of Spider Lake, you are also eligible to vote via Zoom. The chairman is outside his authority to dictate who among the eligible voters are allowed to vote and in what manner. The meeting on the 16th of November is a special meeting of the electors. If you choose to attend via zoom and wish to exercise your right to vote you are within your rights to do so, so long as you identify yourself and you are a resident of the town.
Note: The proper procedure in notifying the chairman is through the town’s attorney. This information has been provided to the town’s attorney and as such should also be communicated to the board. This information as well as additional information regarding Wisconsin Open Meeting Laws are posted on the website at:
Spiderlaketaypayeralliance.com
The complete Wisconsin Open Meeting Law Guidelines is available at the following link:
https://www.doj.state.wi.us/sites/default/files/office-open-government/Resources/OML-GUIDE.pdf
To Summarize:
Tape Recording and Videotaping The open meetings law grants citizens the right to attend and observe meetings of governmental bodies that are held in open session. The open meetings law also grants citizens the right to tape record or videotape open session meetings, as long as doing so does not disrupt the meeting. The law explicitly states that a governmental body must make a reasonable effort to accommodate anyone who wants to record, film, or photograph an open session meeting, as long as the activity does not interfere with the meeting.
The relevant statute is Wis. Stat. 19.90, which states:
19.90 Use of equipment in open session. Whenever a governmental body holds a meeting in open session, the body shall make a reasonable effort to accommodate any person desiring to record, film or photograph the meeting. This section does not permit recording, filming or photographing such a meeting in a manner that interferes with the conduct of the meeting or the rights of the participants
Voting:
This is a town meeting under Wis. Stat. 60.11 et seq and its location is specified under Wis. Stat. 60.12(4).
There’s nothing in those statutes that discuss whether or not people can attend the meeting remotely but by analogy with the definition of meeting under Wis. Stat. 19.82(2), I think that people should be allowed to attend the meeting remotely. Furthermore, that routinely happened during COVID and so it clearly is possible.
Letter to Town Lawyer John R. Calson
Special Meeting Agenda 11.16.23
Exciting News
Good News to Report!
A big thank you goes out to Lee Siebert, Health and Safety Supervisor for Spider Lake. There is a new and much overdue cellphone tower being installed on land south of Highway 77 across from Neumeier Road. Lee has been involved in this project from the beginning and has pushed to have it moved up in the schedule. This tower will be critically important to improve communications between emergency personnel as well as improve cellphone coverage for the public. This is a Verizon project and will be located in the town of Round Lake, nonetheless, Lee felt it was an important project and a benefit to all in the area volunteering his time and expertise in the area of wireless communications. According to the contractors currently working on the project, they estimate completion for mid to late January 2024.
Send us your Questions/Concerns & Get in Touch with us at the bottom of each page
Spider Lake Taxpayers,
We sincerely hope this letter finds you in good health. There are many who are receiving this letter that may not know what the Spider Lake Taxpayers Alliance is or its purpose. The Alliance was formed in 2012 as an organization of both resident and non-resident taxpayers as a means to respond and challenge decisions made by the town government. The Alliance provides a forum for taxpayers who individually feel their voices are unheard and aim to provide information that is often not forthcoming from the town government. It is in the spirit of providing information that we are reaching out to you in this letter today.
Boating Restrictions:
As many of you are aware, Spider Lake Township has a lake ordinance restricting watercraft speeds to 10 mph unless between the hours of 11 am and 3 pm. This was challenged with a lawsuit in Sawyer County filed against the Town of Spider Lake on 11/28/22. It was discovered during research for the case that the town was in violation of both state statute and ACT 302 dating back to 1956 when it was originally put in place as they failed to include the DNR for advisory review before enacting. They were found to have improperly amended the ordinance four times since implementing. At the October 4th hearing this was made known to the court and a summary judgment was issued striking down the watercraft lake ordinance. There are no longer watercraft or watersport restrictions on Spider Lake however the town government has communicated that they are working on a new ordinance to further restrict activities on the waterways within the town. It will be challenged and held to the legal standards of the State of Wisconsin and the Department of Natural Resources. Please let your voices be heard in the upcoming town meetings regarding boating restrictions whether in person or via their Zoom link on the Spider Lake Township website (https://townofspiderlakewi.gov/). This could be on the agenda as early as November.
Tax Assessments:
All taxpayers by this point should have received their new tax assessment from the town government. If for any reason you have not received it in the mail you can view it online by going to county property portal and entering your name or property tax ID number. Overall, the Town’s increase of assessed value was 42% which has many homeowners upset given the large increase. There are meetings scheduled with the town government to review the open book. That meeting is scheduled for October 24th from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The assessor will be on site to answer questions and instruct as to how you can file an objection if you so choose. There also will be a meeting of the board of review on October 31st from 1:00 PM to 3:00 PM at the town hall. Be advised, the board of review is staffed by the members of the Board of Supervisors which you may find that to be a conflict of interest.
Spider Lake Dam:
Many of you may have noticed some lower lake levels this Summer. We are working to gather further information regarding who actually should be controlling the damn and lake levels. Another update to follow once we have further information.
Fire Department:
The Town Fire Department is an all volunteer department and therefore relies on financial resources accumulated through donations and fundraising efforts for specific purposes. The town is requesting the fire department to use those funds to repair, improve and remodel the former maintenance building for fire department use. Since the building is a town of Spider Lake asset, it is the position of the group who opposes the town’s request, that the town pay for the necessary work to be done on its building without using the funds designated for fire department safety equipment, training and recruitment. We will continue to follow this developing situation and stand ready to assist if necessary.
Spider Lake Survey:
Many of you participated by taking the Spider Lake survey in the past couple of months. Have any of us seen results of this survey? Will we? Some transparency both with the results and how the Board will use this information is needed. An email to the board voicing your interest in seeing survey results and direction the taxpayers of the Township would like to see taken would be beneficial in getting some answers. Emailing Town Chair Tim Sheldon would be a good place to start: tim.sheldon@townofspiderlakewi.gov
Village Powers:
Some may already know but for those that do not, the Town of Spider Lake apparently has village powers which are currently being looked into. What this means is they have management and control of the property, finances, highways, streets, navigable waters and public service. According to WI state law, these powers are meant to benefit the health, safety, welfare and convenience of the public. In many instances the Board would be able to create law that supersedes WI state or DNR regulations. Many taxpayers feel the board is overstepping their bounds to benefit their own personal agenda (i.e. – boating ordinances). A five person board is currently arbitrarily regulating law for an entire Township.
Contact Information:
We now have several means for direct contact. Please feel free to reach out with any questions or continue to keep updated through the website or Facebook page. See below:
Email: sltaxpayers1@gmail.com
Website: spiderlaketaxpayeralliance.com
Facebook: Spider Lake Taxpayers Alliance
The Spider Lake Taxpayers Alliance strongly encourages everyone to be involved, be informed, and be heard. This is your community, and you have a say in how it works. Don’t outsource important decisions, step forward and join in the process. Debate and open honest discord are the cornerstone of all democracies.
Kind regards,
Scott Crosby, Managing Director
Spider Lake Taxpayers Alliance
REU Summary Judgement
